Long before the term ‘lookbook’ was coined, Cristobal Balenciaga had each of his haute couture collections photographed and archived. This unseen record of the poses of Balenciaga’s house models as they clutch fabric and strike couture attitudes. The observation of spontaneous social habits and the reconsideration of existing objects is the underlying design practice here. Specifically aimed at developing coolness and elegance for a new Balenciaga woman, the search for chic incorporates the accidental ideas which may occur in fittings.